Thursday, January 14
Known for creating immersive, living picture installations, Israeli-based Dina Shenhav uses soft materials such as ash and foam to sculpt powerful scenes of domestic and urban life and destruction. Exploring the complex origins of traditional markers of masculinity, Shenhav's exhibit "D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival)," whose title is borrowed from the police jargon used to describe a murder scene, will come to life in a special Curator Walkthrough. Led by art curator and fellow Israeli, Tami Katz-Freiman, visitors will view each piece in Shenhav's environment: a constructed hunter's camp filled with every detail of his life and work — his boots, his table, even the food on his plate — hand-carved into pliable yellow foam. Shenhav transforms soft mattress foam, typically associated with the domestic realm, to create imagery and subject matter related to masculinity, war, combat, or, for this show, the world of the hunter.
The curator walkthrough of "D.O.A." begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at ArtCenter/South Florida's Little River Edition (7252 NW Miami Ct., Miami). The exhibit will be on view through January 31. Admission is free. Call 305-674-8278 or visit artcentersf.org.
Jennifer Haley's play The Nether takes place in the startlingly not-too-distant future. In 2050, the internet has evolved to such a depth that humans essentially exist in a web of virtual realities. Rather than launching a browser and surfing the web, Haley's characters can log onto the "inter-webs," choose a persona, and lead multiple lives. As a result, the crime drama exposes what happens when people go too far in pursuing their indulgences and identities.
As a stage production, The Nether uses multisensory tools to create this feeling of total immersion in such a foreign, futuristic world. Winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, an award given to female English-language playwrights, Haley's play premiered only in Los Angeles in 2013. Since then, it has been staged off-Broadway and in London's West End. Now Miamians can see the production performed by a local professional theater company, the Area Stage.
This limited engagement of The Nether opens Thursday and runs until February 24 at the Area Stage at the Riviera Theater (1560 S. Dixie Hwy., Coral Gables). Tickets cost $20 to $35. Call 305-666-2078 or visit areastagecompany.com.
When we were kids, we all loved to draw, but somewhere along the way, most of us decided we weren't artists anymore. Mariana Rego of business consulting group Design Think Miami says that's all hogwash.
"I'm not an artist by any means," she says. "I'm a trained engineer, but for me, drawing and doodling helps engage that part of the brain." For Rego, a quick sketch has proven the best way to flesh out her ideas, get them out into the world, and communicate them to others from the boardroom to casual discussion. She and her team want to give you the skills and confidence to engage your creative side in the conference room, so they teamed with the New Tropic (7230 NW Miami Ct., #5, Miami) for Thursday's Visual Thinking and Sketching With Arts and Drafts — an evening of fun, creativity, and drinks.
The art class for people who don't take art classes will be led by Stephanie Shaheen, a trained artist and business professional who will give you the basic skills to translate the thoughts in your head into relatable images that will have you winning arguments and landing proposals faster than you ever imagined. Plus, the $25 ticket fee includes beer and wine, to help unlock those creative juices. The event begins at 7:30 p.m., and everyone 21 or older is invited. Call 305-846-9026 or visit thenewtropic.com.
Friday, January 15
Some new year's resolutions are hard to keep, but a promise to eat better shouldn't have to be. Why not join the City of Miami Gardens in making 2016 the year of the foodie? From this week forward, every third Friday at Rolling Oaks Park (18749 NW 17th Ave., Miami Gardens) welcomes Food Truck Invasion, a gathering of South Florida's greatest roving fare. It's like a sprawling picnic, minus the ants and plus some gourmet goodies that can't be found anywhere else.
Many of the trucks are run by some of South Florida's favorite chefs, and Food Truck Invasion wants you to know every item is cooked to order. "It's not fast food," the website proudly proclaims, which means it totally fits into your new-you plans. All the flavors of Miami will be represented, from churrasco to lobster, burgers, tacos, mofongo, and dessert pops. Whether you want comfort food or healthy eats, a cool beverage or a sweet finish, there will be plenty to go around. Come with an empty stomach and try as much as possible.
The nommapalooza runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, though the food and drinks are not. Call 844-682-7466 or visit foodtruckinvasion.com.
Miami is no stranger to outdoor screenings, with at least one happening practically every week of the year, and this week is no exception. As part of Art Deco Weekend — which spans Friday through Sunday and is presented by the Miami Design Preservation League — there will be a double feature happening in Lummus Park at Eighth Street and Ocean Drive. The two films are a weird little pair to see together, but it's still an amusing set.
First up, from 1976, is the Oscar-nominated Bugsy Malone. The movie tells the story of famous gangster Bugsy Malone, except with an all-child cast, including Scott Baio and Jodie Foster. Following that is Bugsy, Barry Levinson's Oscar-nominated 1991 film that tells of the relationship between gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel and Hollywood starlet Virginia Hill. It has an all-star cast that includes Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley, and Elliott Gould. The first film starts at 6 p.m. and the latter at 8. Both screenings are free. Call 305-672-2014 or visit artdecoweekend.com for a full schedule of events.
A large part of the Miami allure and its "Magic City" status comes from its reputation as a celebrity hot spot: DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, and Serena Williams at Miami Heat games; A-list Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio at Art Basel; and pretty much anyone in the entertainment industry at LIV. So it only makes sense that a comics convention adopting the moniker would have a lot to live up to.
As evidenced by its topnotch geeky guest list, Magic City Comic Con is set to make the nerds proud. This who's who of sci-fi and fantasy icons begins with a pair of Doctor Who companions — Billie Piper and Jenna Coleman — the bookend leading ladies of the incredibly popular BBC show. They'll be joined by a pair of Game of Thrones veterans, including Kristian Nairn; the ass-kicking Ming-Na Wen of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; the first Flash and exonerated ex-con dad on the new Flash series, John Wesley Shipp; and David Prowse, the man who did all the heavy lifting and killing as Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. From the world of animation and seriously twisted comedy is Dan Harmon, creator of the beloved shows Community and Rick and Morty. The icing on this geeky cake is a man who made the science in science fiction fun for an entire generation: Bill Nye the Science Guy. It's a roster of celebrities worthy of Miami's stargazing culture.
Magic City Comic Con will take place Friday through Sunday at the Miami Airport Convention Center (711 NW 72nd Ave., Miami). Three-day passes cost $75, but single-day passes are also available. Call 954-399-1330 or visit magiccitycomiccon.com.
Saturday, January 16
The Life in Color Festival is like running a 5K Color Run through Bayfront Park during Ultra. The third-annual music festival blends bass-dropping EDM with the aesthetics of that '90s Magic Spin Art toy. As fest-goers — who will be clad in all white, of course — get down to the beats, more than 20,000 gallons of paint will be dumped, sprayed, and drizzled on them. By day, the 50,000 or so participants compose some anthropomorphic Jackson Pollock painting. By night, however, the psychedelic nature of the event emerges, and everyone becomes drenched in paint and throbbing with strobe lights. This year's event, themed the "Big Bang Creation of Color Tour," features electronic musicians such as Jack Ü, Steve Aoki, and Flosstradamus, as well as rappers like Big Sean, Zeds Dead, and Trey Boi.
Additionally, the Life in Color Festival encompasses art installations, fair attractions, acrobatic performances, and self-proclaimed "chill zones," all at Sun Life Stadium (347 Don Shula Dr., Miami Gardens) this Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $110 to $135. Visit licmiami.com.
Booze and gambling is a time-honored combination. Though mixing the two might seem risky, casinos wouldn't be the same without that alcoholic element. Celebrating these two vices, Mardi Gras Casino presents its third-annual Homebrew Beer Competition.
At this yearly event, the casino invites patrons to sample more than 30 beers from local and craft homebrewers as they compete to be crowned the best. In addition to enjoying all-inclusive flowing brews, guests can listen to live music, eat barbecue, and vote for their favorite brew. Radio personality Darlene Evans from KISS Country will MC the festivities and give away prizes.
The Homebrew Beer Competition begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mardi Gras Casino (831 N. Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach). Admission costs $15 and includes a beer sampling cup and pretzel necklace. Call 954-924-3200 or visit mgfla.com.
Sunday, January 17
Winetastings don't have to be stuffy affairs. Combining the diversity of wine with Miami's multicultural landscape, wine and consulting events company Sipping Socials presents the Wine & Reggae Festival, a celebration of Caribbean culture and flavors.
Open to the public, the fest welcomes all Miamians to an evening of vino, food, music, and more. In addition to tasting ten wines, guests can munch at various food trucks — some of which will offer a special Caribbean-inspired dish to pair with specific wines — and visit multiple vendors. Visitors can get glam at a nail art and hair braiding bar by Maggie Rose Salon, while other local vendors offer face and body painting, fresh coconut, sugarcane, and fruit. Wine raffles will also be held throughout the evening.
The Wine & Reggae Festival happens Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Wynwood Yard (56 NW 29th St., Miami). Admission costs $5 and is free for kids 15 and younger. Tickets are available online and at the door. Call 305-297-2747 or visit sippingsocials.com.
If you're one of those masochists who think a 5 a.m. wake-up call and burning your lungs with heavy breathing are a good time, Key West is the perfect place to partake of some agony. Join several thousand eager runners Sunday at the Key West Half Marathon, now in its 18th year.
Participants will be flying in from all over the world to enjoy the island's famous weather — balmy and temperate — while the rest of the country is sinking into a slow freeze. Runners will dash along a 13.1-mile course that offers a picturesque view of the city's classic Victorian architecture, iconic landmarks, and waterfront souvenir shops. If you're into shorter spurts, there will be a 5K course too.
After you've sweated off more calories than you're likely to burn for the rest of 2016, you can hit up the awards ceremony and party hosted by Concrete Beach Brewery to listen to local live tunes. This is Key West, so you never know who might show up for a run and a brew.
The race starts at 7 a.m. near the intersection of Caroline and Margaret streets in the Historic Seaport. Entry fees are $120 per person for the half-marathon and $50 per person for the 5K. Visit keywesthalfmarathon.com.
